The HU63EX horizontal machining center from Mitsui Seiki is designed to boost metalworking productivity. The machine offers X-, Y- and Z-axis positioning with repeatability accuracy of ±0.001 mm (±0.00004" or one micron). B-axis accuracy is ±2 sec. with repeatability of ±1 sec. rotating the 25.5-in.2 (630-mm2) pallet. X-, Y- and Z-axis travels measure 36" × 32" × 32" (900 × 800 × 800 mm).
The 50-taper, 6,000-rpm spindle offers 18.5/15-kW (24.7/20-hp) power with 601 Nm (443 foot-pounds) of torque delivered through a two-step gearbox. Optional spindles include a 6,000-rpm, 26/22-kW (34.8/29.4-hp) unit with 1,081 Nm (797 foot-pounds) of torque and a three-step gearbox, and a 12,000-rpm, 30/25-kW (40/33.5-hp) version with 420 Nm (309 foot-pounds) of torque driven by an integral, built-in motor.
The machining center’s bed is a single casting supported at three points to minimize the effect of foundation fluctuations on accuracy. A thickened structure and rib configurations provide high rigidity. The boxway mating surfaces, rotary axis mounting, ballscrew mounting points and spindle attachment surfaces are hand-scraped for improved parallelism, squareness and straightness. Air cavities between the ways and the column mating surfaces are charged with low-pressure air to reduce the load on the way surface and enable smooth movement, the company says.
Because of the high material removal rate creep-feed grinding can deliver in challenging materials, grinding might not be just the last step in the process—it might be the process.
